The day-to-day experience

What a Day at Growing Place Feels Like.

Our days follow a predictable, calming rhythm, so children feel secure enough to take on big questions. Play is purposeful: children build theories, test ideas, and share what they discover, at all three Santa Monica campuses.

Schedule a Tour See our Campuses
Open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Same rhythm at all three campuses Weekly documentation posts
Two children in bike helmets among yellow flowers at Growing Place in Santa Monica
A child cooking with pots and pans in a wooden play house in the sandbox at Growing Place
Children riding trikes along a shaded garden path at Growing Place
A calm, predictable rhythm for big questions.Infants through TK
The rhythm of the day

A Day, Step by Step

Every classroom moves through the same unhurried flow of gathering, investigating, playing outdoors, resting, and reflecting.

  1. 1

    Arrive & morning meeting

    The group gathers to share ideas and plan the day's work together.

  2. 2

    Small-group investigations

    Children dig into long-term projects, and each completes at least one research project a year.

  3. 3

    Outdoor learning, every day

    Gardens, yards, and open air are part of the classroom, never an afterthought.

  4. 4

    Meals & rest

    A calm midday pause for eating and resting, with rest arrangements suited to each age.

  5. 5

    Reflection & Talking Chairs

    Children revisit their thinking and work through disagreements with a practice created here.

  6. 6

    Reuniting with families

    The day winds down as children are welcomed back by the people who love them.

For every age

One Philosophy, Shaped to Each Age

3 months to 2 years

Infants & Toddlers

The rhythm of each day honors the individual tempo and routine of every child. Early relationships with trusting caregivers build healthy brain development, social and emotional skills, and early language.

Caregivers and parents partner closely to support each child's milestones and transitions, with days full of uninterrupted, developmentally appropriate exploration and play.

Individual routinesCaregiver partnershipNap room and kitchen at Marine Park
2 to 5 years

Preschool & TK

An emergent curriculum built on children's questions, with long-term investigations and teachers who research alongside them. Each child completes at least one research project a year.

Preschoolers and TK children share a large play yard, and outdoor learning is part of every day.

Project-basedDaily outdoor timeTalking Chairs
At a glance

The Practical Details Families Ask About

Hours, ratios, meals, and rest, in one place.

  • Hours

    8:00 am to 5:00 pm

    All three campuses

  • Ratios

    1:4 infants, 1:6 toddlers, 1:10 preschool

    By age group

  • Meals & snacks

    Parents pack lunch

    Snack details to come

  • Rest

    Nap arrangements by age

    Dedicated infant nap room at Marine Park

  • Schedules

    Full-time and part-time options

    Days and half-day choices to come

  • Calendar

    Year-round or academic calendar

    Closures to come
Parents as partners

You'll See the Learning Too

Families are part of the day even when they are not in the room.

  • Weekly documentation posts

    Photos and stories that make each child's thinking visible, shared with families every week.

  • Monthly campus newsletter

    News, upcoming events, and a window into what each classroom is exploring.

  • Parent education workshops

    Evenings that bring families and teachers together to learn about child development.

  • Twice-yearly conferences

    Parent-teacher conferences to talk about your child's growth and plan next steps together.

Questions families ask

Day-to-Day FAQs

What does a typical day look like at Growing Place?

Days follow a predictable, calming rhythm so children feel secure enough to take on big questions. Children gather for morning meeting, dig into small-group investigations, spend time outdoors every day, and finish with reflection, including Talking Chairs, a practice created at Growing Place for working through disagreements. Infants and toddlers follow the individual tempo and routines of each child.

See the daily rhythm →

What are Growing Place's hours?

All three Santa Monica campuses are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Campus information →

How do infants and toddlers spend their day?

For children from 3 months to 2 years, the rhythm of each day honors the individual tempo and routine of every child. Caregivers and parents partner closely to support each child's milestones and transitions, with days full of uninterrupted, developmentally appropriate exploration and play. At Marine Park, the infant and toddler classroom has its own dedicated nap room and kitchen.

Infant & toddler program →

How will I know what my child is learning?

Families see the learning through weekly documentation posts with photos and a monthly campus newsletter. We also host parent education workshops and hold parent-teacher conferences twice a year.

Our approach →

Do all three campuses follow the same daily rhythm?

Yes. All three campuses share one mission, one teaching approach, and one daily rhythm, while each brings the philosophy to life through its own spaces and age range.

Compare campuses →